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AND HE 8HALL 8ENDHI8 ANGEL8 WITH A GREAT 80UND OF A TRUMPET AND THEY 8HALL GATHEIl
TOGETHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WIND8, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER. MAT. 24:81.
80 WILL I SEEK OUT MY SHEEP, AND WILL DELIVER THEM OUT OF ALL PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE
BEEN SCATTERED IN THE CLOUDY AND DARK DAY. EZEK.84:12. JER. 82,89.
VOLUl\1E NO. XXVI. MOUNDSVILLE, W. VA., U. S. A., THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1906.
A SONG OF PEACE.
BY O. H. DEWEY.
Wake, wake, yesongs that thrill my raptured spirit!'
, "Oh, praise the Lord, my soull" my heart so gladly
, sings.
Sing, "Blessed be the Lord!" Let saints andilangels
hear it,
And heaven join the strain that thro' my being
rings! '
CHORUS.
Oh, it is precious!-Down:iu my bosom
Peace, like a stream, so pure and deep and wide,
Is flowing, e,er sweet, in its celestial freedom;
A mighty ru~hing river, a never-ceasing tide.
Oh, blessed peace! The peru'ls beneath the ocean,
Or gems, er stores of earth, could ne' er with thee
compare;
A thousandfold the Lorn rewards the soul's devotion:
Oh, blessed peace from heaven, so free, and rich,
and rare!
Dear Lamb of God, from whence thIS peace is
flowiug,
Dear Shepherd, lead me on by peaceful waters still;
Oh, make then me io lie where pastures green are
growing,
, And keep my ran~omed sonl in all thy holy will.
---0-
ETERNAL LIFE.
BY EDWARD N. LYDICK.
, 'FOR the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus
Christ our Lord." Rom. 6: 23. Sin sepa­rates
the soul from God, 'It is a reproach
tll any peuple,' and they that linger therein
a re dead. "For the wages of sin is death, , >
or in other words, the penalty of sin is
death. ,Ve that are saved from our ,sins
were also, dead once. "And you hath he
quickened. who were dead in trespasses
a ud sins." Eph. 2: 1. By one man's diso­bC'diC'nce
sin entered into the world and
lllany were made sinners. "But not as the
offence, so also is the free gift. For if
through the offence of one many be dead,
much more the grace of God and the gift
hy grafe, whiel1 is by one man, Jesus Christ,
hath abounded unto many. And not as it
\yas by ope that sinned, so is the free gift:
for the .judgment was by one to condemna­tion,
but the free gift is of many offences
unto justification. For if by one man's
nffencp death reigned by one; much more
th,C'Y which receive abundance of grace and
of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one Jesus Christ." Rom. 5: 15-17.
evening time of the gospel dispensation.
May God help us keep it for Jesus' sake!
"vVhosoever believeth that Jesus is the
Christ is born of God;" and "whosoever is
born of God doth not commit sin," "for
this is the love of God that we keep his com­mandments,"
etc. "These things have I
written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that ye may know that
ye have eternal life, and that ye may be­lieve
on the name of the Son of God."
1 John 5: 13. Here John addressed a peo­ple
who already believed on the Son of God
and had eternal life. He wrote these things
that they might be fully assured of it.
These people were still living upon the
earth, and the. context clearly proves that
they had eternal life. "He that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in him­self:
he that believeth not God hath made
him a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son. And
this is the record, that God hath given to
us, eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ' ,
1 John 5: 10, 11.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ!
1 J oIm 5: 1. " Yes." Do you believe it
with all your 4eart 1 Rom. 10 : 10. "Yes. "
Are you free from sin 1 Rom. 6: 22.
"Yes. " Do you act like it? Mat. 7: 20.
"Yes. " ,Veil now, if all this be true, do
;vou not have eternal life? "He that be­lieveth
on the Son hath eternal life: and
he that believeth not the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him." John 3: 36. What is the fruit of
your life ~ Rom. 6: 22. There is no law
against bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
You need not be afraid to put forth a lit­tle
effort that you might bring forth more
fruit. "Y e have not chosen me, but I have
chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go forth and bring forth fruit, and
that your fruit should remain; that what­soever
ye shall ask the Father in my name,
he may give it you.' , John 15: 16. "ThP
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long­suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meek­ness,
temperance: against such there is no
law."
CHRIST'S INVITATION.
BY G. J. GALENTAN.
IN the Bible are found many,good things,
This is clear ,and true. However some and among these is the grand and glorious
people do not believe we can reign over invitation of Christ to the sinner. We will
sin h} this life. They believe we shall not first notice whom he invites. Many people
know whether we be saved or not before we think and are taught that some are or­die.
I am glad we can have and enjoy dained to be lost and others to be saved,
elernal life at. this present timE'. I am bntGod says, "He is not willing that any
glad :it has been so for nineteen hundred should perish." 2 Pet. 3: 9. Paul says,
yc:'ars. I am also glad that it will be so "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
until Jesus comes, and then not for a thou- to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
The above scriptures are very plain, and
declare that the invitation is extended to
all. Since we see that the invitation is
given to all, let us see when we are to
come. When our friends send us an invi­tation
to attend a certain gathering, they
of. course mention the day we are to come.
So does the Lord, for he saith, "I have
heard thee in a time accepted, and in the
day of salvation have I succored thee: be­hold,
now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor.
6 : 2. Behold, how plain God sets forth the
day of acceptance! He says 'IWW. This
is the day of salvation, this is the day of
mercy. Again we hear the time mentioned:
"Come now, and let us reason together,
saith th~ Lord: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall
be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient,
ye shall eat the good of the land." 1sa.
1: 18, 19. Jesus says, "Come; for all
things are now ready." Luke 14: 17.
What excuse has the sinner, after seeing
the invitation is to all, and that he now is
invited 1 But in the last chapter that we
mentioned we find that those who were in­vited
"began with one consent to make
excuse." Notice the word "make." They
did not have an excuse, but they each tried
to make one. So it is to-day. But God
says, (( To-day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. " The invitation is
to all. The time is now. Who will come T
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap
in mercy; break up your fallow ground:
for it time to seek the Lord, till he come
and rain righteousness upon you." Hos.
10: 12.
~
DO YOU DISCERN THE :BODY OF CHRIST~
JAS. B. PETERMAN.
THERE are multitudes of professing
Christians in our land to-day :who do not
know what discerning the body of Christ
means, and many care but little to know.
Yet it is an all-important subject, which
should invite our most careful attention,
that we may not 'eat and drink damnation
to ourselves, not discerning the Lord's
body.' 1 Cor. 11: 29. This body of which
we sp(;ak does not refer to the temporal
body of flesh and ,blood that Jesus bore
while here upon earth, but to his body that
is the church. Col. 1: 24. Proof texts as
follows:
"And hath put all things under his fed.
and gave him to be the head, over all
thiugs to the church. which is his body."
Eph. 1: 22. 23. "And he is the head. 01
the body, the church, . . . that in all things
he might have the preeminence." Col. 1:
18.
ONLY ONE BODY.
sand years but throughout eternity. Christ." 1 Thes. 5: 9. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even
We have Seen that sin came by disobedi- Let us view the invitation from the Bi- as ye are called in one hope of your call-rnee
and death by sin. While in sin we ble. Jesus says, "Come unto me, all ye ing." Eph.. 4:4. "That he might reeon­suffered
the penalty and were "dead (spir- tllat labor and are heavy laden, and I will cile both unto God in one body by the
itnally) in trespasses and sins." "For the give you rest." :Mat. 11: 28. Reader, did cross, having slain the enmity thereby."
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God you notice the word" all" ? He invites all "That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs,
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our to come. "And the Spirit and the bride and of the same body." Eph. 2: 15; 3: 6.
Lord."This gift was the Son of God, and [the church} say, Come. And let him that "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
in him is eternal life. "For God so loved hE:areth say, Come And let him that is one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
the world, that he gave his only begotten athirst come. .And whosoever will, let him whether we be bond or free; and have
Son that whosoever believeth in him should take of the water of life freely." Rev. been all made to drink into one Spirit."
not perisl1, but have eternal life." John \ 22: 17. Does Christ make mention of any 1 Cor. 12: 13. «So we, being many, are
3: 16; John 5: 11. Truly God is love, and certain class, or choice, among the people one body in Christ, and every one members
now that he has niade it possible for us to in the above? Again we read, "Ho, every one of another." Rom. 12: 5. "But now
have eternal life and be free from all sin one that thirsteth, come ye to 'the waters, hath God set the members every one of
who:-is"to l:ilam4df people die'in their sins and he'that hath no mo~ey; c~~e re, b~y, ,them in the body, as it hath pleased him."
arid b'ei.ievenot -Oll the' Lord' Jesns ChriSt 1 a:nd' eat; yeaieonie; -buy. ~e andinilk 1 Cor. 12: 18.
,rl'he:Bl~eteaches; and. (rl~~ experience and withont money and without price." 1sa. From these texts we learn that there is
the'testlluonies'of others bear:witness that '55:1., ' , ," , ,-' 'only "one body,'~ or,church, and that God
'We' ;ca~.~~d "(j.{i _hav~- eternat- life in this '~a~ ~ ~i"e~t i~v'i~ation~d iib~rai:o~er! ~ets every inewber"into it, by his Spirit.
~ -':
NUMBER 12.
It then contains all the saved people upon
earth and in heaven. Eph. 3: 14, 15.
Then, any other body that calls itself a
church and does not contain all the saved
people upon earth and in heaven and that
has a different way of admitting members, '
is not the "body of Christ," but a counter­feit,
and is existing in opposition to the
one of which the Bible says that God sets
the members into, and that Jesus is the
head and has the preeminence. Christ has
the preeminence and is head of but "one
body, " the church (Col. 1: 18), "the
church of God, which he hath purchased
with his own blood." Acts 20: 28. " And
the Lord added to the church daily, such
as should be saved." Acts 2: 47. Jesus
built this church while here upon earth
(Mat. 16: 18), and thank God! she exists
in her virtue to-day.
Every other body called a church has its
own builder and head, who also holds the
preeminence by his teaching, which governs
it. For example, Mr. Dowie is head and
has the preeminence in his Zion institu­tion.
Christ has never had one moment's
rrue in that sect. If he had, it worud not
exist. Again, the Methodists claim John
Wesley as builder and head of their so­ciety.
Then there is the Free Methodist
denomination with B. T. Roberts at its
head. And Alexander Campbell stands at
the head of the body that calls themselves
Christians, disciples, etc. Thus we see the
many heads ruling these many bodies,
which did not exist prior to their heads
who started them.
The world to-day is all divided up in
a very sad and unscriptural way, in a mul­titude
of religious bodies, since the refor­mation
in 1530, and we are intelligently
sure that these many ways can not all be
right, for many contradictory things can
not aU be right at the same time; so we
must resort to the inspired record to find
out the right way, and then we must stand
by it, if we would keep right and free, and
.be "laborers together with God." 1 Cor.
3:9.
Do you not see how Jesus built and es­tablished
his church, the church of God,
while he was here upon earth! It included
only those who WE're saved from their sins,
and remained in that .state. Hence, all
man-made societies that are called church­es,
which have many sinners within their
borders, are only the babel of confusion
spoken of by the apostle in Rev. 17: 1-6.
Salvation from sin does not put us into
any of these societies; but it will save us
and thus we shall be in the body of Christ,
which is no part of these human institu­tions.
It is thought by some, that because
there are some Christian people in these
societies that they compose the body of
Christ, but this is a mistake. These so­cieties
all together compose the city of con­fusion,
Babylon (read Gen. 11: 1-9; Rev.
17: 1-5), and God is calling his people out
of Babylon. "Flee out of the midst of
Babylon, and deliver every man his soul;
be not cut off in her iniquity." Jer. 51: 6.
And au angel "cried mightily with a
strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, and is become the habitation 01
devils [defying spirits], and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every un­clean
and hateful bird. . . . And I heard
another voice from heaven, saying, Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not par­taker
of her sins, and that ye receive not
of her plagues." Rev. 18: 2, 4. The Lord
once suffered his people to remain in Baby­lon
for a time, until she became a cage of
foul an~ defying spirits, who have set them.~

AND HE 8HALL 8ENDHI8 ANGEL8 WITH A GREAT 80UND OF A TRUMPET AND THEY 8HALL GATHEIl
TOGETHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WIND8, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER. MAT. 24:81.
80 WILL I SEEK OUT MY SHEEP, AND WILL DELIVER THEM OUT OF ALL PLACES WHERE THEY HAVE
BEEN SCATTERED IN THE CLOUDY AND DARK DAY. EZEK.84:12. JER. 82,89.
VOLUl\1E NO. XXVI. MOUNDSVILLE, W. VA., U. S. A., THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1906.
A SONG OF PEACE.
BY O. H. DEWEY.
Wake, wake, yesongs that thrill my raptured spirit!'
, "Oh, praise the Lord, my soull" my heart so gladly
, sings.
Sing, "Blessed be the Lord!" Let saints andilangels
hear it,
And heaven join the strain that thro' my being
rings! '
CHORUS.
Oh, it is precious!-Down:iu my bosom
Peace, like a stream, so pure and deep and wide,
Is flowing, e,er sweet, in its celestial freedom;
A mighty ru~hing river, a never-ceasing tide.
Oh, blessed peace! The peru'ls beneath the ocean,
Or gems, er stores of earth, could ne' er with thee
compare;
A thousandfold the Lorn rewards the soul's devotion:
Oh, blessed peace from heaven, so free, and rich,
and rare!
Dear Lamb of God, from whence thIS peace is
flowiug,
Dear Shepherd, lead me on by peaceful waters still;
Oh, make then me io lie where pastures green are
growing,
, And keep my ran~omed sonl in all thy holy will.
---0-
ETERNAL LIFE.
BY EDWARD N. LYDICK.
, 'FOR the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus
Christ our Lord." Rom. 6: 23. Sin sepa­rates
the soul from God, 'It is a reproach
tll any peuple,' and they that linger therein
a re dead. "For the wages of sin is death, , >
or in other words, the penalty of sin is
death. ,Ve that are saved from our ,sins
were also, dead once. "And you hath he
quickened. who were dead in trespasses
a ud sins." Eph. 2: 1. By one man's diso­bC'diC'nce
sin entered into the world and
lllany were made sinners. "But not as the
offence, so also is the free gift. For if
through the offence of one many be dead,
much more the grace of God and the gift
hy grafe, whiel1 is by one man, Jesus Christ,
hath abounded unto many. And not as it
\yas by ope that sinned, so is the free gift:
for the .judgment was by one to condemna­tion,
but the free gift is of many offences
unto justification. For if by one man's
nffencp death reigned by one; much more
th,C'Y which receive abundance of grace and
of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by one Jesus Christ." Rom. 5: 15-17.
evening time of the gospel dispensation.
May God help us keep it for Jesus' sake!
"vVhosoever believeth that Jesus is the
Christ is born of God;" and "whosoever is
born of God doth not commit sin" "for
this is the love of God that we keep his com­mandments"
etc. "These things have I
written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that ye may know that
ye have eternal life, and that ye may be­lieve
on the name of the Son of God."
1 John 5: 13. Here John addressed a peo­ple
who already believed on the Son of God
and had eternal life. He wrote these things
that they might be fully assured of it.
These people were still living upon the
earth, and the. context clearly proves that
they had eternal life. "He that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in him­self:
he that believeth not God hath made
him a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son. And
this is the record, that God hath given to
us, eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ' ,
1 John 5: 10, 11.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ!
1 J oIm 5: 1. " Yes." Do you believe it
with all your 4eart 1 Rom. 10 : 10. "Yes. "
Are you free from sin 1 Rom. 6: 22.
"Yes. " Do you act like it? Mat. 7: 20.
"Yes. " ,Veil now, if all this be true, do
;vou not have eternal life? "He that be­lieveth
on the Son hath eternal life: and
he that believeth not the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him." John 3: 36. What is the fruit of
your life ~ Rom. 6: 22. There is no law
against bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
You need not be afraid to put forth a lit­tle
effort that you might bring forth more
fruit. "Y e have not chosen me, but I have
chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go forth and bring forth fruit, and
that your fruit should remain; that what­soever
ye shall ask the Father in my name,
he may give it you.' , John 15: 16. "ThP
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long­suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meek­ness,
temperance: against such there is no
law."
CHRIST'S INVITATION.
BY G. J. GALENTAN.
IN the Bible are found many,good things,
This is clear ,and true. However some and among these is the grand and glorious
people do not believe we can reign over invitation of Christ to the sinner. We will
sin h} this life. They believe we shall not first notice whom he invites. Many people
know whether we be saved or not before we think and are taught that some are or­die.
I am glad we can have and enjoy dained to be lost and others to be saved,
elernal life at. this present timE'. I am bntGod says, "He is not willing that any
glad :it has been so for nineteen hundred should perish." 2 Pet. 3: 9. Paul says,
yc:'ars. I am also glad that it will be so "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
until Jesus comes, and then not for a thou- to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
The above scriptures are very plain, and
declare that the invitation is extended to
all. Since we see that the invitation is
given to all, let us see when we are to
come. When our friends send us an invi­tation
to attend a certain gathering, they
of. course mention the day we are to come.
So does the Lord, for he saith, "I have
heard thee in a time accepted, and in the
day of salvation have I succored thee: be­hold,
now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor.
6 : 2. Behold, how plain God sets forth the
day of acceptance! He says 'IWW. This
is the day of salvation, this is the day of
mercy. Again we hear the time mentioned:
"Come now, and let us reason together,
saith th~ Lord: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall
be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient,
ye shall eat the good of the land." 1sa.
1: 18, 19. Jesus says, "Come; for all
things are now ready." Luke 14: 17.
What excuse has the sinner, after seeing
the invitation is to all, and that he now is
invited 1 But in the last chapter that we
mentioned we find that those who were in­vited
"began with one consent to make
excuse." Notice the word "make." They
did not have an excuse, but they each tried
to make one. So it is to-day. But God
says, (( To-day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. " The invitation is
to all. The time is now. Who will come T
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap
in mercy; break up your fallow ground:
for it time to seek the Lord, till he come
and rain righteousness upon you." Hos.
10: 12.
~
DO YOU DISCERN THE :BODY OF CHRIST~
JAS. B. PETERMAN.
THERE are multitudes of professing
Christians in our land to-day :who do not
know what discerning the body of Christ
means, and many care but little to know.
Yet it is an all-important subject, which
should invite our most careful attention,
that we may not 'eat and drink damnation
to ourselves, not discerning the Lord's
body.' 1 Cor. 11: 29. This body of which
we sp(;ak does not refer to the temporal
body of flesh and ,blood that Jesus bore
while here upon earth, but to his body that
is the church. Col. 1: 24. Proof texts as
follows:
"And hath put all things under his fed.
and gave him to be the head, over all
thiugs to the church. which is his body."
Eph. 1: 22. 23. "And he is the head. 01
the body, the church, . . . that in all things
he might have the preeminence." Col. 1:
18.
ONLY ONE BODY.
sand years but throughout eternity. Christ." 1 Thes. 5: 9. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even
We have Seen that sin came by disobedi- Let us view the invitation from the Bi- as ye are called in one hope of your call-rnee
and death by sin. While in sin we ble. Jesus says, "Come unto me, all ye ing." Eph.. 4:4. "That he might reeon­suffered
the penalty and were "dead (spir- tllat labor and are heavy laden, and I will cile both unto God in one body by the
itnally) in trespasses and sins." "For the give you rest." :Mat. 11: 28. Reader, did cross, having slain the enmity thereby."
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God you notice the word" all" ? He invites all "That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs,
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our to come. "And the Spirit and the bride and of the same body." Eph. 2: 15; 3: 6.
Lord."This gift was the Son of God, and [the church} say, Come. And let him that "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
in him is eternal life. "For God so loved hE:areth say, Come And let him that is one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
the world, that he gave his only begotten athirst come. .And whosoever will, let him whether we be bond or free; and have
Son that whosoever believeth in him should take of the water of life freely." Rev. been all made to drink into one Spirit."
not perisl1, but have eternal life." John \ 22: 17. Does Christ make mention of any 1 Cor. 12: 13. «So we, being many, are
3: 16; John 5: 11. Truly God is love, and certain class, or choice, among the people one body in Christ, and every one members
now that he has niade it possible for us to in the above? Again we read, "Ho, every one of another." Rom. 12: 5. "But now
have eternal life and be free from all sin one that thirsteth, come ye to 'the waters, hath God set the members every one of
who:-is"to l:ilam4df people die'in their sins and he'that hath no mo~ey; c~~e re, b~y, ,them in the body, as it hath pleased him."
arid b'ei.ievenot -Oll the' Lord' Jesns ChriSt 1 a:nd' eat; yeaieonie; -buy. ~e andinilk 1 Cor. 12: 18.
,rl'he:Bl~eteaches; and. (rl~~ experience and withont money and without price." 1sa. From these texts we learn that there is
the'testlluonies'of others bear:witness that '55:1., ' , " , ,-' 'only "one body,'~ or,church, and that God
'We' ;ca~.~~d "(j.{i _hav~- eternat- life in this '~a~ ~ ~i"e~t i~v'i~ation~d iib~rai:o~er! ~ets every inewber"into it, by his Spirit.
~ -':
NUMBER 12.
It then contains all the saved people upon
earth and in heaven. Eph. 3: 14, 15.
Then, any other body that calls itself a
church and does not contain all the saved
people upon earth and in heaven and that
has a different way of admitting members, '
is not the "body of Christ" but a counter­feit,
and is existing in opposition to the
one of which the Bible says that God sets
the members into, and that Jesus is the
head and has the preeminence. Christ has
the preeminence and is head of but "one
body, " the church (Col. 1: 18), "the
church of God, which he hath purchased
with his own blood." Acts 20: 28. " And
the Lord added to the church daily, such
as should be saved." Acts 2: 47. Jesus
built this church while here upon earth
(Mat. 16: 18), and thank God! she exists
in her virtue to-day.
Every other body called a church has its
own builder and head, who also holds the
preeminence by his teaching, which governs
it. For example, Mr. Dowie is head and
has the preeminence in his Zion institu­tion.
Christ has never had one moment's
rrue in that sect. If he had, it worud not
exist. Again, the Methodists claim John
Wesley as builder and head of their so­ciety.
Then there is the Free Methodist
denomination with B. T. Roberts at its
head. And Alexander Campbell stands at
the head of the body that calls themselves
Christians, disciples, etc. Thus we see the
many heads ruling these many bodies,
which did not exist prior to their heads
who started them.
The world to-day is all divided up in
a very sad and unscriptural way, in a mul­titude
of religious bodies, since the refor­mation
in 1530, and we are intelligently
sure that these many ways can not all be
right, for many contradictory things can
not aU be right at the same time; so we
must resort to the inspired record to find
out the right way, and then we must stand
by it, if we would keep right and free, and
.be "laborers together with God." 1 Cor.
3:9.
Do you not see how Jesus built and es­tablished
his church, the church of God,
while he was here upon earth! It included
only those who WE're saved from their sins,
and remained in that .state. Hence, all
man-made societies that are called church­es,
which have many sinners within their
borders, are only the babel of confusion
spoken of by the apostle in Rev. 17: 1-6.
Salvation from sin does not put us into
any of these societies; but it will save us
and thus we shall be in the body of Christ,
which is no part of these human institu­tions.
It is thought by some, that because
there are some Christian people in these
societies that they compose the body of
Christ, but this is a mistake. These so­cieties
all together compose the city of con­fusion,
Babylon (read Gen. 11: 1-9; Rev.
17: 1-5), and God is calling his people out
of Babylon. "Flee out of the midst of
Babylon, and deliver every man his soul;
be not cut off in her iniquity." Jer. 51: 6.
And au angel "cried mightily with a
strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is
fallen, and is become the habitation 01
devils [defying spirits], and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every un­clean
and hateful bird. . . . And I heard
another voice from heaven, saying, Come
out of her, my people, that ye be not par­taker
of her sins, and that ye receive not
of her plagues." Rev. 18: 2, 4. The Lord
once suffered his people to remain in Baby­lon
for a time, until she became a cage of
foul an~ defying spirits, who have set them.~